Comparison: Lysander and Sulla
How should we look at the lives of “problematic” great figures? Join us as we join the ancient philosopher Plutarch, in sizing up two incredible men of action. Who wins?
The Cost Of Glory Episodes

Marius 2: Third Founder of Rome
Marius faces Jugurtha, the Cimbri, and opponents at home. He understood the power of morale, religion, and timing. At war, he exemplified that quintessential Roman q...

Marius 1: Ambition
A controversial figure, Gaius Marius was a ‘new man’ (novus homo), who rose from a zero to the greatest Roman of his generation, unifying the equestrians and plebs aga...

Plutarch on Listening to Podcasts
Why did Plutarch write biographies? What does one hope to get out of a biography podcast?
History Contains Power
My name is Alex Petkas, and in The Cost of Glory, I present you with the best stories, analyses and takeaways, from the greatest and most influential figures from Greco-Roman antiquity.